3rd & FINAL ODI – INDIA VS SRI LANKA – FANTASY PREVIEW

Short three-match ODI series evenly poised as both India and Sri Lanka registered a win each and heading to Visakhapatnam for the final clash. The home side Team India defeated Sri Lanka by 141 runs after faced a disastrous defeat in the first game. Sri Lanka failed to keep the momentum which they got in the first game, but will come strong to win their first bilateral ODI series in India. The 3rd and Final ODI between India vs Sri Lanka is scheduled to start at 1:30 PM Local Time on Sunday, 17th December 2017.

INDIA :

The record setting third double century by captain Rohit Sharma brought back India and leveled the series 1-1. After that an unexpected collapse in the first game, Rohit called it as a ‘wake-up call’ and Team India woke up well at right time in Mohali on Wednesday. 141 runs victory helps the home side to back on top and they have job to finish in Vizag this weekend. Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer contributed with well made half-centuries and bowlers Bumrah and Chahal did their job well later on the day. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma had a disappointing start in the first ODI but they came back strong and played accordingly in Mohali. Dhawan was in good touch in his 68 runs knock. After settled down the in-form batsman smashed the ball all over the park and looked threaten at one stage. Dhawan is expected to play another good innings in this game and his IPL experiences in this venue would help him in a big way. After 209 in 2013 and 264* in 2014 Rohit Sharma scored his third double century in the ODIs and he is the only player who achieved the feat multiple times in cricketing world. As usual Rohit took his time in the middle and reached his hundred in 115th ball he faced. But he finished the innings with an unbeaten 208* in 153 balls. He required only 38 balls to score next 108 runs on that day. He always love to play against Sri Lankans and no wonder if he come with one more big hundred or double-century on Sunday.

On his very second ODI game, Shreyas Iyer played a fearless cricket and missed out his maiden century by just 12 runs. He smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes in that knock of 88 runs of 70 balls. He has scored plenty of runs in domestic and IPL matches and those experiences come to play in the series. After that awful batting display in Dharamsala both Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey kept their places safe in the XI on Wednesday. But both of them didn’t get a chance to bat in that game. Team India marked Ajinkya Rahane with the tag ‘Back-up opener’ and made him sit in the bench in both occasions. But as South Africa tour is on the corner, Rahane may get a game in Vizag and that case he will replace either Karthik or Manish. Former captain and the most experienced player in the group, MS Dhoni already scored a fighting half-century in the first game. He could possibly play one more impressive knock in this game. Dhoni offered many points with his gloves work in the last game and that will continue in Vizag too.

Hardik Pandya didn’t face enough balls to show his batting skills but he shined with the ball and he was the most economical bowler other day. Pandya could come up in the order and smash the ball, so he deserves a place in your team. The 18-year old all-rounder Washington Sundar made his debut in the last game as we expected. He replaced Kuldeep Yadav in that game and picked 1 for 65 on debut. India may go for this game with 6 bowling options which means either Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel would make into the XI on Sunday. Yuzvendra Chahal did his part well with 3 for 60 in 10 overs spell. The leg-spinner will take more wickets in the final ODI. Two front-line pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bowled well other day. Especially, Bumrah did a good job with 2 for 43 in his 10 overs spell. Both of them are wicket-takers and chances for any one of them to take 4 or 5 wicket haul in this match.

SRI LANKA :

Sri Lanka broken their 12-matches losing streak with an amazing show in Dharamsala last Sunday. Bowlers were so dominated and bowled out the opposition for 112 runs. But the same bowling unit has conceded 392 runs in 50 overs in Mohali. Those efforts made cricket fans to feel that current Sri Lanka team is one match wonder. But they have a chance to prove it wrong by winning the series on Sunday. Sri Lankans were bit over confident and gone with the same playing XI in the last game and back-fired for them. Among the prominent bowlers, Akila Dananjaya was the only one who bowled around 5 runs per over in Mohali. Rest of the bowlers conceded too many runs and Nuwan Pradeep made a century in his 10 overs spell. Two poor games in a row for the opener Danushka Gunathilaka. The attacking batsman managed to score 1 and 16 in the first two games. He may allow Niroshan Dickwella back to opening spot and move down himself to middle-order. Dickwella is the in-form batsman and he had a good start once again on Wednesday. He will the good wicket-keeper choice for Fantasy concerns.

Lahiru Thirimanne has wasted one more opportunity that might cause him a place in the XI. If Thirimanne drops for this game, either Dhananjaya de Silva or Sadeera Samarawickrama will replaces him. Former captain Angelo Mathews continue to bring his A-game for a second straight time in the series. Once again he bowled an impressive spell in the first power-play and conceded only 9 runs in 4 overs. With a bat, Mathews notched the ODI century after quite long time and remained unbeaten with 111 runs. His current form is the key for Sri Lanka and we can expect all-round performances from him on Sunday. The batting all-rounder Asela Gunaratne started well with the bat in the last game. He scored quick 34 runs in middle-order and he has all capacity to play match-winning knocks. As he returned from an injury, didn’t offer much with a ball but could do some damage with a ball in this game.

Captain Thisara Perera is one of the most predictable bowler currently. He concedes so many runs in limited overs cricket in recent months. He claimed 3 wickets in the last game but conceded 80 runs in 8 overs. He managed to score only 5 runs with a bat other day. Obviously, the team needs their captain to bring an all-round performances in this crucial clash but not sure how will he response. Akila Dananjaya and Sachith Pathirana are the specialist spinners in Sri Lanka lineup and no wonder if Akila comes with a magical spell just like he bowled against India few months ago. Pacers Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep were a threat for India in the first game. Lakmal claimed 4 for 13 in 10 overs while Pradeep has taken 2 for 37. But in the last game, things turned tragically opposite and both bowlers conceded too many runs. Lakmal remained wicket-less for 71 runs in 8 overs and his partner Pradeep gave away over 100 runs in 10 overs. Still, Sri Lanka will go with those two as they are their best pace bowlers.

Cricket is what everyone loves. If you’re ready to play fantasy cricket but don’t know how to analyze players, consider his Articles as the foundation of your fantasy teams. Anand is a cricket blogger and fantasy cricket lover.

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